Monday, August 20, 2012

Earth Intruders

I'm happiest in layers of clothing, outside, when there is a cool breeze and lots of trees. San Diego has been especially hot this year, so I thought I'd share some of my summer essentials for the fellow woodsy-type's, to get you through to autumn.

1. They eat. They speak. They move...Bury yourself in some of my favorite classic summer reading selections.

2. Lightweight scarves are a summer staple. Besides obvious reasons they're great for using as hair ties and impromptu picnic blankets. I like to keep a wide variety handy, and most of my favorites are thrift store scores.

3. Bjork's Earth Intruder (Lexx Remix). Ecoute et répète.

4. The new Glade Rosemary & Sage collection... the room spray smells amazing when it's just too hot for candles!

5. My new favorite table decoration, Pistia, also known as Water Lettuce. Sweet little succulent-looking rosettes that float. Their roots look like feathers, making for a lovely display in a glass vase. You can get them locally at Pigment.6. Microcosmos! (Now on Netflix instant streaming) French magic & whimsy.

7. All terrain Herbal armor for when the bugs are buggin'. Doesn't leave you smelling like Citronella either, a major plus.

8. I have an unhealthy fascination with carnivorous plants. This summer I supplemented my Venus fly trap with a Pitcher plant, which is supposed to help keep the flies away, but also looks pretty neat.

"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands out and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun--which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with the millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes.”Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden